Vise for holding disks or the like



July 11, 1950 E. F. ABER VISE FOR HOLDING DISKS OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 1946 INVENTOR.

July 11,1950;

' E, F. ABER VISE FOR Howms DISKS OR THE LIKE Filed March 15, 1946 r I .1 v YINVENTORQ 1 v BY I Patented July 11, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VISE FOR HOLDING DISKS OR THE LIKE Earnest F. Aber, Waterford, Wis.

Application March 15, 1946, Serial No. 654,541

This invention relates to improvements in vises for holding discs or the like.

In the manufacture of circular cutters, gears, or like articles, from circular pieces of metal, it is frequently necessary to take a metal disc of one thickness and saw through it edgewise to form two or more discs of lesser thickness. Usually this type of sawing is done by means of a reciprocating saw or by a band saw, and at the present time there is no vise constructed to satisfactorily hold a disc-shaped article with sufficient firmness during this type of of operation.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved vise in which work which is disc-shaped, square, or the like, may be quickly clamped and firmly held in a suitable position for an edgewise sawing operation or for any other type of operation where the work is required to be held in a similar position.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a device in which the work is clamped and held at spaced points around its periphery by relatively small projecting jaws which engage close to the inner face of the work and do not, therefore, interfere with a sawing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vise of the class described in which the clampin members may be quickly adjusted to adapt the vise to discs of different diameter or to metal pieces of different sizes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vise, including a plurality of adjustable clamping members, wherein a portion of each clamping member is so arranged as to exert a strong lever-v age on the work engaging jaw portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vise as above described wherein, in the preferred form of the invention, the clamping :meme bers operate in three substantially radially eX tending slots, one of the slots being spaced a substantially greater number of degrees from a second one of said slots than said first mentioned slot is spaced from the third slot. With this are. rangement work of any diameter within the capacity of the vise may be firmly clamped' If the slots were equally spaced from one another, the vise would only be suitable for clamping work pieces which vary a definite amount in diameter from one another. In addition, by having a relatively large spacin between two of the slots, a cutout space may be provided for the frame of a reciprocating saw so that a saw of this type can cut pieces of small diameter without bumping the frame of the vise.

With the above and other objects in' view, theta Claims. (Cl. 29-457) invention consists of the improved vise for holding discs or the like, and all its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating one i complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention,in which the same reference-numerals designate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the vise, looking principally at a side edge but at an angle from the front and above, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view looking principally at the rear of the vise, part of the base being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a front view on a slight perspective;

Fig. 4 is a side view of one of the clamping assemblies; and

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the yoke member alone.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the main body portion is a casting which includes a base 8 and an upright portion 9. Behind the upright portion there is preferably an integral web II] which is also connected with the base.

; Inuse of the vise the base may either be held proximately 95 with respect to the slot l4, and

9 are ridges it (see Fig. l).

member 20, and a clamping screw 2|.

the latter is at an angle of approximately with respect to the slot l5.

Bordering the sides of the slots and projecting outwardly from the front of the upright portion There is also a ridge I! at the outer end of each slot. The ridges I6 are transversely grooved as at [8, the grooves l8 on one side of a slot being in transverse alignment with grooves on the opposite side. These grooves are preferably semi-circular in cross-section.

Cooperablewith each slot is a clamping assembly as shown in Fig. 4. Each clamping assembly includes an L-shaped clamping lever IS, a yoke One end of each L-shaped lever I9 is provided with a work-engaging jaw 22 and projecting from opposite sides of the lever IS, a short distance inwardly from the end, are trunnions 23. These trunnions are cooperable with a set of the grooves I8 in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 3. When a clamping lever is in the assembled position of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it is straddled by the legs 24 of the yoke member Zil, and a pin 25 removabl insertable in holes 26 in the ends of the legs 24 removably holds each yoke in straddling relationship with its lever I9. The purpose of the yoke is to provide a'solid portion forspanning one of the slots [3, 14 or l5, so as to provide a bearing for the inner end of the adjustment screw 21,

the latter being threaded in an angularly extend- (1' the size of the vpiece of work to be held. After this adjustment has been made, the piece of work,

such as the disc 28 of Fig. 1, is placed in posi-' tion between the three jaw portions 22. Next, the screws 2| are tightened. This causes the levers l9 to rock on the trunnions 23 and cause the jaw portions 22 to tightly engage the work in the manner shown in Fig. 1. Due to the distance which the clamping levers [9 project below the trunnions, a, very strong leverage is obtained.

With the base portion 8 held in an ordinary vise or bolted to a table by means of bolts extending through the openings ll, it is now possible to perform a desired operation on the work 28. By having the slot 13 spaced a substantially greater distance from the slot 15, such as 160, than the slot I3 is spaced from the slot l4', it is possible to clamp pieces of work of any diameter within the capacity of the vise. If the slots l3, l4 and I5 were spaced uniform distances apart, then assuming that the transverse recesses 18 are spaced of an inch apart, the vise would only take pieces of work which varied /8 of an inch in diameter from each other. In ad. dition, by having the relatively large opening be: tween the slots l3 and 15, the frame of a reciprocating saw can come up close to the upright portion 9 of the vise without bumping. This is particularl advantageous when sawing pieces of small diameter.

As before mentioned, the Vise of the present invention is particularly well adapted for holding a disc while it is being sawed edgewise, usually by a reciprocating saw or by a bandsaw, along a line such as the line 29. It is obvious; however, that the vise is suitable for use in connection with other operations. It is also obvious that the vise may be used to hold work having a shape other than circular. While three of the slots l3, I4 and I5 are employed in the preferred form of the invention, a greater or lesser number may be used for certain purposes if this is deemed desirable.

Various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A vise comprising a supporting wall forme radial adjustment, said slots being so arranged a that the spacing between two of said slots is substantially greater than the spacing between any other two slots, whereby a slab of stock of any diameter within the maximum and minimum limits of the vise can be held by said clamping assemblies.

2. In a vise for holding discs or the like, a supporting wall having a plurality of elongated substantially radially extending slotted portions therein; clamping levers movable toward and away from each other in said slotted portions,

each clamping lever having a jaw at one end and having trunnions immediately adjacent said jaw whereby the portion of the lever between the trunnions and said jaw forms only a minor part of the length of the whole lever; trunnion receiving means on said wall selectively engageable by said trunnions for rockabl maintaining said levers in selected radially adjusted positions in said slotted portions; and means in engagement with each of said levers at the end opposite from the jaw and trunnions for causing rocking movement of said levers about said trunnions to move said jaws radially inwardly into tight clamping engagement with a disc positioned therebetween.

3. In a vise for holding discs or the like, a supporting wall having a plurality of elongated substantially radially extendingslotted portions therein; clamping levers movable toward and away from each other in said slotted portions, each clamping lever having a jaw at one end and having trunnions immediately adjacent said jaw whereby the portion of the lever between the trunnions and said jaw forms only a minor part of the length of the whole lever; trunnion re ceiving means on said wall selectively engageable by said trunnions for rockably maintaining said levers in selected radially adjusted positions in said slotted portions; and means including an actuating screw threaded through each of said levers opposite the jaw and trunnions thereof for causing rocking movement of said levers about said trunnions to move said jaws radially inwardly into tight clamping engagement with a disc positioned therebetween.

4. A vise comprising a supporting wall having a plurality of elongated substantially radially extending slotted portions therein, clamp-ing levers movable toward and away from each other in said slotted portions, each lever having a jaw portion at one end projecting from one side of said supporting wall and having an L-shaped portion projecting from the opposite side of said wall, means on said first mentioned side in close proximity to said jaw portion for rockably maim tainin'g said clamping levers in selected radially adjusted positions in said slotted portions, and means including screws through said L-shaped portions for causing rocking movement of said levers and swinging of said jaw portions toward one another into tight engagement with a slab of work positioned therebetween.

5. A vise comprising a supporting wall having a plurality of elongated substantially radially eX- for rockably maintaining said clamping levers in selected radially adjusted positions in said slotted portions, a bearing plate spanning the slot on threaded angularly.

the rear side of the wall adjacent each lever,

and screws threaded angularly through the L-shaped portions of said levers and engaging said bearing plates to forcibly cause rocking movement of said levers and swinging of said jaw portions toward one another to tightly clamp a slab of work positioned therebetween.

6. A vise comprising a supporting wall having a plurality of elongated substantially radially extending slotted portions therein, clamping levers movable toward and away from each other in said slotted portions, each lever having a jaw portion at one end projecting from one side of said supporting wall and having an L-shaped portion projecting from the opposite side of said wall, means in close proximity to said jaw portion for rockably maintaining said clamping levers in selected radially adjusted positions in said slotted portions, a yoke member straddling each lever on the rear side of the wall and having a plate portion spanning the slot, and screws threaded angularly through the L-shaped portions of each lever and engageable with said plate portions to cause rocking movement of said levers and swinging of said jaw portions toward one another to tightly clamp a slab of work positioned therebetween.

7. A vise comprising a supporting wall having a plurality of elongated substantially radially extending slotted portions therein, clamping levers movable toward and away from each other in said slotted portions, each lever having a jaw portion adjacent one end, trunnions projecting from each lever inwardly of and in close proximity to said jaw portion, said supporting wall on each side of each slot having a series of trunnion receiving recesses for rockably receiving the trunnions to maintain the clamping levers in selected positions of adjustment in said slotted portions, and means for forcibly causing rocking movement of said trunnions in said recesses to swing said jaw portions toward one another and tightly clamp a slab of work positioned therebetween.

8. A vise comprising a supporting wall having three elongated slots extending substantially radially with respect to each other, said slots being so arranged that the spacing between two of said slots is substantially greater than the spacing between any other two'slots, clamping levers movable toward and away from each other in said slots, each lever having a jaw portion adjacent one end, trunnions projecting from each lever inwardly of and in close proximity to said jaw portion, said supporting wall on each side of each slot having a series of trunnion receiving recesses for rockably receiving the trunnions to 6 maintain the clamping levers in selected positions of adjustment in the slots, and means for forcibly causing rocking movement of said trunnions in said recesses to swing said jaw portions toward one another and tightly clamp a slab of work positioned therebetween.

9. A vise comprising a supporting wall having three unequally spaced elongated slots extending substantially radially with respect to each other, clamping levers movable toward and away from each other in said slots, each lever having a jaw portion adjacent one end, trunnions projecting from each lever inwardly of and in close proximity to said jaw portion, said supporting wall on each side of each slot having a series of trunnion receiving recesses for rockably receiving the trunnions to maintain the clamping levers in selected positions of adjustment in the slots, and means for forcibly causing rocking movement of said trunnions in said recesses to swing said jaw portions toward one another and tightly clamp a slab of work positioned therebetween.

10. A vise comprising a supporting wall having three elongated slots extending substantially radially with respect to each other, said slots being so arranged that the spacing between two of said slots is substantially greater than the spacing between any other two slots, and said wall being cut out between said two widely spaced slots, clamping assemblies movable toward and away from each other in said slots, each clamping assembly having a movable jaw portion, means for maintaining said clamping assemblies in selected radially adjusted positions in said slots, and means for causing said jaw portions to tightly clamp a slab of work positioned therebetween.

EARNEST F. ABER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 167,572 Seaver Sept. 7, 1875 522,651 Cole July 10, 1894 1,131,696 Hess Mar. 16, 1915 1,185,852 Solis June 6, 1916 1,379,747 Cumner May 31, 1921 2,322,707 Wetzler June 22, 1943 2,361,763 Goddard Oct. 31, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 529,969 France Sept. 22, 1921 

